Patriots Hall of Fame

Ty Law, a first-time finalist, is the latest former player to be voted in by the fans to the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. His induction will take place 4:30 p.m. Friday Aug. 1, 2014 outside The Hall at Patriot Place at Gillette Stadium.

Law beat out former Patriots coach Bill Parcells and fellow first-time nominee Raymond Clayborn for the honor.

“Ty Law was one of the greatest players in franchise history and one of the premier corners in the NFL during his Patriots career,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft said in a statement. “The fans have helped validate that with this year’s hall of fame selection. We have had an incredible run of success and the building blocks started with players like Ty. He was an important part of three Super Bowl championship teams. It will be an honor to bring Ty back to celebrate his career as he takes his rightful place in our team’s hall of fame. I am sure he will deliver another memorable moment during his hall of fame ceremony, too.”

The former Patriots defensive back spent 10 seasons in New England after being drafted 23rd overall by the Patriots in 1995. He was a two-time all-pro while helping the team to three Super Bowl championships. He’s tied with Clayborn for the franchise lead in interceptions (36) and owns the franchise best for interceptions returned for a touchdown (6).
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Chin, Barry Globe Staff

Tedy Bruschi (2013)

Linebacker Tedy Bruschi was voted by fans as the 19th player and 21st member to enter the Patriots Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame during training camp on July 29.

Bruschi was originally drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft. That year, the Patriots won the AFC Championship and appeared in Super Bowl XXXI. It was the first of five Super Bowl appearances by Bruschi during his 13-year NFL career. Bruschi helped propel the Patriots to 11 winning records, nine playoff seasons, including eight as division champions, five conference crowns and three Super Bowl titles.

Bruschi is the only player in NFL history to return four consecutive interceptions for touchdowns and his career total of four picks returned for scores ranks second in Patriots history. He is also the only Patriots linebacker to return multiple interceptions for scores in a single season (2002 and 2003), which is tied for fourth in NFL history among linebackers.

Click through the gallery to see who else has been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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Elise Amendola

Gil Santos (2013)

Patriots radio broadcaster Gil Santos (left) will join his longtime on-air partner Gino Cappelletti in the Patriots Hall of Fame when he is inducted in August of 2013. Santos, who retired after 36 seasons as the Patriots’ play-by-play announcer, was chosen for induction by team owner Robert Kraft.

Santos began calling Patriots games in 1966.

“Gil has always had such a great voice. We are lucky that his radio calls will be indelibly linked to the most memorable moments in our franchise’s history and we are happy to preserve his legacy in The Hall for generations to come,” Kraft said.
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Troy Brown (2012)

Troy Brown was inducted as the 18th player and 19th member of the Patriots Hall of Fame on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. He spent his entire 15-season NFL career with the Patriots (1993-2007) after being drafted by the team in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. The 5-foot-10-inch, 196-pound receiver, punt returner, and defensive back retired as the Patriots’ all-time leading receiver with 557 career receptions and as the team’s all-time leading punt returner with 252 career returns.

“Troy Brown will always be special to me, as he was my sweetheart’s favorite player during his career,” said Patriots owner Robert Kraft.Next

Drew Bledsoe (2011)

Drew Bledsoe, center, was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame along with former center Jon Morris. Bledsoe was the Patriots' top draft pick – and first pick overall – in 1993, and in nine seasons with New England, he set records for pass attempts (4,518), completions (2,544) and yards (29,657).

He still holds Patriots single-season records for attempts (691) and completions (400).
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John Morris (2011)

Morris, a center, played in 130 games from 1964 to 1974 for the Patriots, and was a seven-time AFL All-Star. He was chosen by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 1964 AFL out of Holy Cross.
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Sam "Bam" Cunningham (2010)

The bruising fullback, who spent his entire 10-year career with New England (1973-82), was selected into the Patriots HoF by an online vote in 2010. Cunningham remains the Patriots' all-time leading rusher, with 5,453 yards on 1,385 carries (3.9 ypc) and 43 touchdowns.

"I had the pleasure of talking to Sam, he's excited and enthused," Patriots owner Robert Kraft said when he announced Cunningham's induction. "Sitting in the stands, like so many of us, I remember the thrills he gave us... the great contributions he made."
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Bill Sullivan (2009)

The only "contributor" in the Patriots Hall of Fame, Sullivan was the Patriots owner from 1959 until their sale in 1988. Sullivan brought professional football to New England (first as the Boston Patriots in the AFL) when previous attempts had failed.

He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame during the team's 50th anniversary year in 2009.
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Jim Nance (2009)

Nance played seven seasons for the Patriots (1965-1971). In his career, he tallied 5,401 yards at fullback with 45 touchdowns. He was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2009.
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Ben Coates (2008)

Coates, who is regarded among the game's top tight ends, played 142 games for the Patriots and had 490 receptions, 5,471 receiving yards and 50 touchdowns. In 2008, he was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame by the team's fans.
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Stanley Morgan (2007)

Morgan made 534 career receptions for 10,352 yards and 67 touchdowns at receiver for the Patriots between 1977 and 1989. The yardage and touchdowns are still Patriots records. He was a four-time Pro Bowler who was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2007.
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Bruce Armstrong (2001)

Armstrong played in 212 games for the Patriots, a team record. The offensive tackle was a staple of the Patriots' line through the 80s and 90s. He was named an alternate to the Pro Bowl in 1999. He was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2001.
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Andre Tippett (1999)

One of the greatest pass rushers in the history of the NFL, Tippett played his entire career (1982-1993) with the New England Patriots. He was the defensive player of the year in 1985 and was named to the NFL's All-Decade team of the 1980s. In 1999, he was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Steve Grogan (1995)

Grogan played all 16 seasons of his career with the Patriots (1975-1990), and earned the respect of his team and fans as one of the toughest players on the team – despite being a quarterback. He threw for 26,886 yards and 182 touchdowns. He was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1995.
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Mike Haynes (1994)

Haynes was the first Patriot to return a punt for a touchdown, but also considered one of the NFL's all-time great cornerbacks and was named to the league's 75th anniversary team. In seven season with the Patriots, he made seven Pro Bowls. In 1994, he was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame and in 1997, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Bob Dee (1993)

A Quincy native, Dee, center, scored the first touchdown in AFL history, diving onto a fumble in the end zone of a preseason game. The defensive lineman never missed a game from 1960 to 1967, earning five AFL all-star nods. He was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1993.
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Jim Lee Hunt (1993)

Nicknamed the "Earthquake," Hunt was a four-time AFL all-star for the Patriots between 1960-1971. The defensive tackle, who was praised as the best pass rushing tackle by AFL scouts in 1967, had an award named after him by the Patriots for the team's best lineman. John Hannah was the first Patriot to win the Jim Lee Hunt award. Hunt was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1993.
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Steve Nelson (1993)

A three-time Pro Bowler, Nelson (57) played for the Patriots from 1974 to 1988. In his time with the team, he led the defense in tackles eight times, and recorded more than 100 tackles nine times. The linebacker recorded an unofficial team record of 207 tackles in 1987. After retiring as a player, he coached the Patriots and Curry College. He was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1993.
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Vito "Babe" Parilli (1993)

Parilli was the Patriots quarterback from 1961 to 1967. He was a three-time AFL all-star who passed for 22,281 yards and 178 touchdowns. With Gino Cappelletti at receiver, the duo were known as the "Grand Opera." He was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1993.
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Gino Cappelletti (1992)

Cappelletti was the Patriots' career scoring leader until 2005, having played receiver and kicker for the team between 1960 and 1970. He was the AFL MVP in 1965 and was voted an AFL all-star five times. He holds the team record for field goals with 176. Since the end of his playing days, Cappelletti has been been a broadcaster, and he's best known as the voice of the Patriots with Gil Santos on radio broadcasts.
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Nick Buoniconti (1992)

A Springfield native, Buoniconti was a five-time AFL all-star for the Patriots. He played in three Super Bowls for the Miami Dolphins after his career with the Patriots and won two, including the 1972 season in which the Dolphins retained a perfect record through the year. He was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1992 and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
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John Hannah (1991)

Hannah, a guard, played his entire career for the Patriots (1973-1985). Sports Illustrated famously crowed over Hannah's blocking ability in 1981, calling him the best lineman of all time. A nine-time pro bowler, Hannah was named offensive lineman of the year for four straight years (1978-1982) – spanning the first four years of the award's inception. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991 and became a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame the same year.
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